Being creative: 5 spots where you can find your inner artist, musician

Published: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 12:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 12:05 p.m.

Steve Jobs. Pablo Picasso. T. S. Eliot. W. H. Davenport Adams. Lionel Trilling. Igor Stravinsky. William Faulkner. All of these men have something in copy. They all circulated a similar quote, in variation, during their lives: “Good artist copy; great artists steal.”

Well Big Fun is stealing the limelight this week with five places you can find your inner artist.

Mondays see the Wetlands Center fill with the sounds of fiddles, guitars, accordions and French as local Cajun music enthusiasts hold their jam session to the delight of dozens.

The event gives visitors a chance to hear the soundtrack of an older generation’s upbringing and those not content with listening are invited to join in, said Jerry Moody, the jam session organizer.

Moody said anyone with experience playing fiddle, guitar, accordion, upright bass and steel guitar are encouraged to get involved.

Moody plays accordion and gives lessons as well. He said those interested are eased into the jam sessions with some one-on-one help to get familiar with the style and chords for the music.

“To save the culture you have to create interest,” he said. “That is my goal, to create interest maybe encourage someone to speak French.”

Information: Jerry Moody at 859-7646.

Creative U

Where: 5333 La. 311, Houma

For many adults, learning how to paint can be nerve wracking. The people at Creative U believe it shouldn’t be that way.

The art center serves as a place for the young and old to come and learn how to enjoy creating art with the help of a trained artist.

“It’s a fun environment,” said owner Karen McGowan. “We stress individuality and uniqueness. We don’t want people to try to be perfect. We want them to be the best they can be individually.”

They offer classes for all ages, art birthday parties and camps are scheduled for most times school is out.

The center also offers Wine and Paint parties for adults.

“It’s a therapy for adults more than anything,” McGowan said. “It’s a relief breaking from that mold of the day to day. Most adults are nervous and think they are going to be judged, but they eventually realize its just fun and not hard.”

In addition to painting, the center also has the equipment to teach pottery making and plans for pottery camps and parties planned.

Information: Creative U at 381-7012, creativeuhouma@yahoo.com, www.creativeuhouma.com or on their Facebook page.

The BLVD. Ultra Lounge

Where: 1299 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma.

This nightlife destination in Houma also serves as an open outlet for various types of artistic endeavors.

More than 200 artists have been featured at the lounge, according to Emily Delorge, who organizes the events showcasing the work of local artists at the lounge.

Delorge said the lounge has held various types of art events, including poetry readings, dance performances, professional light technicians and visual arts like sculpting and photography.

The goal is to provide an unintimidating place for artists to perform or show their work and connect with other artists in the community, Delorge said.

The events do not have a set date, but recently have been held once a month.

Information: The lounge’s Facebook and Twitter page for event listing. Emily Delorge at 504-201-3389 or j.emilydelorge@gmail.com. You must be 21 to enter the lounge.

The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band welcomes all ages to join and perform at local venues.

The band was first assembled in 1984 and now has more than 40 members, which regularly perform at the Southland Mall, downtown Houma and Houma Municipal Auditorium.

The band’s music varies, but includes classical, modern, country, big band and patriotic genres.

The band is open to all ages and occupations and the music is arranged for instruments including saxophone, clarinet, trumpet or cornet, trombone, bass, guitar, drums and keyboard.

“Most of the members have participated in high school band programs and join the band after many years of not having played their instruments,” the group writes on its Facebook page. “They just come in and pick up where they left off.”

The group has performed more than 300 concerts.

The band’s board of directors encourages anyone who has an interest in music to be a part of the community group. The ages of the group’s membership varies from teens to older, retired members.

The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band, who has a concert band and a stage band, performs regular concerts throughout Terrebonne Parish, including an anniversary concert, a spring concert, patriotic concerts and Christmas concerts.

“The goal is to play for the enjoyment of the members, to become the best we can be and to serve the community,” the group’s website says.

Information: A performance schedule and sign-up information is available on the band’s website at http://htcb.org/ or by email at info@htcb.org.

Painting with a Twist

Where: 488 Corporate Drive, Suite 3, Houma

Painting with a Twist wants to help people get past organizations required for beginners painting. Visitors are provided with everything they need to create art and a teacher that guides them through the process of creating their painting.

“We teach visitors little things like certain brushstrokes, but it is more of a fun time painting,” said Megan Montz of Houma’s Painting with a Twist.

Montz said many visitors bring their own libation and snacks to enjoy while painting.